Rick Homans

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The 2005 El Paso Economic Summit
Economic Impact of Transportation Infrastructure
August 17, 2005 El Paso, Texas
Rick Homans Secretary of Economic Development
Department State of New Mexico
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Paso del Norte Rail Relocation
The importance of Three States, Two Nations
working together for the Region
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Paso del Norte Rail Relocation A project of
National or Regional Significance

• 13 of U.S. freight rail traffic moves through
  this region
• UPRR now limited to 45 trains/day needs capacity
  for 70 trains/day
• Homeland/Border Security concerns with two
  downtown international rail bridges for hazmat
  crossings
• Project would reduce pollution and congestion and
  improve in both El Paso and Cd. Juarez
• Project is of national and regional
  significance
• An international project improving international
  trade between the U.S. and Mexico

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Current Status

• TEA Funding Authorization A Project of National
  and Regional Significance
• 14 million authorization for planning, studies,
  and engineering
• A joint request by Senators Domenici, Hutchison,
  Cornyn and Bingaman
• Supported by NM Congressional delegation and
  Cong. Reyes
• A commitment by New Mexico and Texas to jointly
  pursue the project
• TXDOT and Texas statutory capabilities for
  bi-state and bi-national project funding
• New Mexico commitment of 500,000 for planning
  studies and preliminary engineering

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Project Goals

• Improve the efficiency of goods movement and
  mobility
• Decrease or eliminate cross-border train movement
  through congested, urban El Paso/Juarez area
• Provide opportunity for block swapping and
  intermodal interchange west of Tucumcari junction
• Provide better location for fueling stops and
  crew changes
• Mitigate environmental impacts associated with
  increased demand for goods movement
• Stimulate trade-related economic activities and
  create jobs
• Stimulate land development
• Enhance the quality of life throughout the region
• Improve safety and security

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The Project provides significant benefits
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Three States committed to work together for a
better future in our Region